Feeding mechanism for multiple printed forms



Aug. 24, 1943. N. WHITEHE AD 2 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE PRINTED FORMS 3ZL' Filed March 4, 1941 Patented Au 24, 1943 OFFICE FEEDING MECHANISM FOR MULTIPLE PRINTED FORMS Ned Whitehead, Los Angeles, Calif. Application March 4, 1941, Serial No. 381,617

8 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanisms for feeding multiple paper webs through bookkeeping machines, and the like, and is particularly ap-. plicable to webs having forms printed thereon in which it is necessary to maintain theforms on anism in accordance with the invention shown in the different webs in alignment with each other and with the typing mechanism of the machine.

Heretofore in machines of the type referred to 7 it has been the practice to providethe webs with marginal apertures or sprocket holes, to be engaged by sprocket wheels or chains in the webfeeding mechanism for the purpose of imparting accurate feeding movement to the websand maintaining the differentwebs in alignment with provide a web-feeding mechanism forhandling multiple forms in which the accuracy of alignment of the different forms is improved at the printing line on the platen, whereby better registration of typed matter is obtainedon all of the webs.

Another object is to provide. a web-feeding mechanism adapted forready reversal to facilitate backing up the webs, eitherfor adjustment of the writing line or for the correctionor addition of printed matter.

Another object is to provide a mechanism that is particularly effective in maintaining the Webs in taut relation around the printing platen.

Another object is to provide a web-feeding structure that is readily adjustable to handle per-. forate'd webs of different Widths. V Briefly, my improved web-feeding mechanism difiers essentially from the prior known types mentioned, in that it incorporates apulling mechanism beyond the printing platenfor maintaining a constant pull on the web and incorporates a hold-back sprocket mechanism engaging the web ahead of the printing platen and synchronized withthe printing platen for. per-. mitting the. web to be advanced only at the desired determined speed.

Other particular objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow, the detailed description referring to thedrawing, in which V ple thewebs to the sprocket rollers.

operative relation with the platen of a typewriting machine; V

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the feeding mechanism; V

Fig. 3 is a detail section taken through the right end portion of the mechanism (with reference. to Fig.2), the section line being indi cated at III-III in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a, skeleton section showing the path of the web through my feeding mechanism and around the platen of the typewriting machine to which the mechanism is attached;

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section, taken along the line VV in Fig. 2 and.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section taken in the plane V;[VI of Fig. 1.

Referring first to the skeleton View of Fig. i, aplurality of webs iii are shown feeding over an apron I} to rollers l2 havingsprocket pins engageable with sprocket holes M in the webs. The webs pass over the sprocket rollers i2, thence downwardly'over the guide apron H, around a V printing platen it past a type mechanism ll adapted to print thereon, and thence. upwardly between pairs of feed rollers i8 and is, respectively, past a vertical guide apron 2E3, thence over a substantially horizontal guide apron'ii positioned above the sprocket rollers l2, and thence out of the machine.

lhe Webs Iii can move toward theplatenlfi only as fast as the sprocket rollers i2 rotate, since the sprocket pins iii in cooperation with the sprocket holes it in the webs positively cou- Furthermore the sprocket rollers [2 are positively geared by a gear mechanism (not shown in Fig. 4) to theplaten it so that they both rotate at the same peripheral speed. The rollers l8 and it constitute pulling rollers and have a torque constantly; applied thereto for maintaining the webs taut and drawing the webs "around the platen at as rapid a-ra'te as is permitted by the sprocket rollers l2.

The rollers [2 (only one of which appears in Fig. 4) are two in number and areslidably, nonrotatably supported in spaced-apart relation on a square shaft 22 which is rotatably supported at its opposite ends in suitable bearings in frame plates 23 and 24 (Fig.2) At its right end, just inside the frameplate' 23, the square shaft 22 has secured thereto a gearwhe el 25 which meshes with an idler gear 26 mounted on a stub shaft on the frame plate 23. The idler gear in turn meshes with a gear 2? also freely, rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 28 projecting from the frame plate 23, gear 27 in turn meshing with an idler gear -3 (Fig. 1) mounted on a stub shaft 38 which in turn meshes with an idler gear 3| mounted on a stub shaft 32; gear 3! (Fig. 2) in turn meshes with an idler gear 33 which is adapted to mesh with a gear St on the printing platen it of the typewriting machine. The sprocket rollers i2, which engage and hold back the paper web, are therefore positively coupled to the printing platen US through the square shaft 22 and gears 25, 28, 2?, 2d, 3!, 33 and 34, respectively.

The two sprocket rollers l2 are maintained in proper axially spaced relation by a pair of slidable frame plate members and 36 which are slidably supported by a rod 3'! (Fig. 2) and a rod 38. These plates 35 and 36 may be locked in any desired position by means of thumb screws 39 and ii]. The plate 36' has thrust plates thereon engaging the opposite ends of the hubof the sprocket roller l2 to hold it in proper axial position. One of these thrust members 4! engages the outer end of the hub 82a of roller l2,'as shown in Fig. 2. The thrust member engaging the inner end of the hub of roller 42 includes a plate d5 (Fig. 6) secured to the apron H as by a weld 46, the guideap-ron i lbeing-secured to the plate 36 by a weld Sta. The plate 35 also functions as a support for one of the apron elements 2|, previously described in connection with Fig. 4. The elements for'axially supporting the other roller 52 from the frame plate 35 are similar to those described.

The pulling rollers i8 and iii are formed in two sets, one mounted on-the plate 555 and the other mounted onplate 35 and both driven from a square shaft 4i rotatably mounted in'the end plates 23 and '24 and'driven from the gear train on the plate -23 in a manner to be described later.

Referring to Fig. 3, one'of the inner rollers I9 is secured to a shaft 58 which is supported in a bearing 49 secured'to' one of the aprons 2!], and a bearing 58 in the 'slidable plate-35; The shaft 48 is rotated through sprocket-52 thereon by achain 53 extending from a sprocket 5d which is slidably mounted on the square shaft 4'! previously mentioned. 7

The other-roller It is mounted on a shaft 55 mounted in bearings in thesidc w alls- 55 and 57 (Fig. 3) of a channel-shaped member 53 (Fig. 2) which is hingedly supportedat its upperuend on a stub shaft-59 extending from the plate 36 so that the roller is can swing toward and away from the roller lilto accommodate multiplev webs of varying thickness. A tension spring 58..(Fig. 3) stretched between a pin on the frame plate 36 and an eyelet on the member 58, urges the two rollers together. The roller i3 is positively rotated at the same speed as the roller {9 by intermeshing gears {5i and 62 on the shafts 55 and 48, respectively.

The pulling roller assembly on plate 35 is identical with that onplate 36, just described.

The square shaft ll. has driving force con stantly applied thereto by a slipping-clutch mechanism. Thus at its right end, the shaft has a ratchet wheel E3 (Fig. 3) thereon which connected by a'click-pawl 64' to a gear 65 which meshes with a gear 66 (Fig. 2) "mounted for rotation on the same stub shaft that sup-- ports the gear 2 7. Furthermore the gear 66 is-sepa'rated from -the gear 'zlonly by a frie engaged gears 21 and tion washer '59 (Fig. 5) and is constantly pressed thereagainst by a helical compression spring 61 compressed between the gears 68 and a nut 68 on the outer end of the stub shaft 28, the latter being threaded at its outer end to receive the nut 68.

It will be apparent that the gear 66 is frictionally driven from the gear 21 and the torque applied from gear 21 to gear 6 5 may be varied byturning the nut 58 to vary the compression of the spring 61.

The dimensions of the various gears and sprockets intercoupling the gear 25 to the feed rollers l8 and IS are such that the peripheral speed of the pulling rollers l8 and I9 is substantially greater than the peripheral speed of the hold-back rollers l2 so that in operation the gear 6% constantly slips rearwardly with respect to the gear 27 and a torque is applied to the pulling rollers l8 and it to at all times apply a pull to the webs to draw them around the platen of the machine as fast as the hold-back rollers i2 will permit Various materials may be employed for the rollers tS-and til. I have found it satisfactory to provide the roller H) with a soft rubber surface and the roller 58 with a knurled metal surface. Such a combination provides a relatively high coefficient of friction with the webs so that there is substantially no slippage between the rollers i8 and it and the webs, and substantially all the slippage occurs between the frictionally Equivalent structures that'might beemployed are conventional sprocket wheels for engaging the sprocket holes in the webs, or rollers having needle points that penetrate the webs. In general, I findit more satisfactory to provide rollers l3 and 9 of a type that quite positively engage the webs, and provide. for the application of 'a constant torque to the rollers by a slip drive, such as that between gears 21 and 55. However, the structure can be simplified by positively coupling the, gears 66 to the gear 2'! (as by forming them integrally) and, then forcing slippage to occur between the pulling rollers 68 and i9 and'the websthey engage.

The ratchet wheel 63 and the click-pawl 64 make it possible to back up' the Webs by simply rotating the platen l6 and the sprocket rollers i2lin reverse direction. If the ratchet wheel and .pawl were not provided, reverse rotation of the sprocket rollers .i2'would rotatethe rollers l8 and 19 at a more rapid rate and introduce slack into the webs below the pulling rollers. With the mechanism as described, forward. movement of the platen [6 applies a torque to the pulling rollers. 18 and I9 to maintain the webs taut, and reverse rotation of the platen l6 disengagesthe pawl 64 from the ratchetwheel .63 so that the rollers. I8 and. 19 are free to.be;rotated bythe webs as the latter are pulled backward therethrough, but they do not impart any feeding movement to the Webs.

.To insure engagement of all the webs with the pins 53 ofthe sprocket rollers l2, I provide an arcuate retaining arm 12 overlying each roller and having a slot therein throughwhich the pins 53 extend. Each arm E2 is pivotally supported at its rear end on a pivot pin 73 extending from its adjacent plate 35 or 3B. .Any'suitablespring means (not shown) may be employed to yieldably urge the arms '12 against the webs and urge them toward the rollers I2. I y H As clearly showh in Fig. '4, eaoh' of the pins-$3 is substantially semicylindrical in shape to permit a limited longitudinal displacement of the different webs with respect to the pins l3, this longitudinal displacement resulting from the fact that the radius of curvature of the outer web is greater than the radius of curvature of the inner web. In Fig. 4 the thickness of the two webs lilii is exaggerated so thatit can be observed that Whereas the sprocket holes it in the two webs are initially in registration with each other, there is a rearward displacement of the holes in the outer web relative to the holes in the inner web,as the webs extend around the rollers i2. This displacement of the webs is maintained after the webs leave the rollers i2 and until they start around the platen i However, since the webs are curved about the platen it in a direction opposite to the direction of curvature about the rollers l2, the webs are restored to their original position in registration with each other at the printing line opposite the printing means i'!. The fact that the pins 63 are of smaller dimension longitudinallyof the webs than the sprocket holes in the webs, permits the displacement of the webs as they pass around the rollers l2 and this displacement is desirable because it compensates for the displacement in the different webs that occurs during passage of the webs around the platen it. It will be observed from Fig. i that the pins iii are engaging the rear edges of the sprocket holes in the inner webs and do not engage the outer webs.

it is to be understood that Fig. 4 represents only a schematic showing of the webs, and for that reason discloses only two webs with nothing intervening therebetween. In usual practice, there are a larger number of Webs and they are separated from each other by separate carbon webs. In lieu of separate carbon webs, all of the webs except the inner one (with respect to the platen it) may have a transfer coating on their inner surfaces.

Obviously, the machine can be readily adapted to handle webs of varying width by loosening the thumb screws 39 and iii and sliding the frame members and along their sup Jorting rods 3'] and 38.

An advantage of the machine is that the pulling rollers it and it are relatively small and can be positioned close to the platen it so that a minimum amount of paper has to be run past the platen into position to be engaged and pulled by the rollers l8 and iii.

The fact that the rollers i3 and i8 and the hold-back rollers I2 exert a constant tension on the Webs stretched therebetween around the platen it, draws the webs tightly against each other on the platen at the printing line, thereby facilitating the attainment of good carbon impressions.

It is to be understood that my feed mechanism is not restricted to any particular type of printing mechanism. Thus it may be employed either with a printing machine in which the platen axis remains stationary and the type bars move into and out of engagement with the paper on the platen, or a construction in which the platen itself is moved to carry the paper. against a sta tionary type bar. The double arrows in Fig. 4 indicate that the printing operation may be performed either by movement of the type bar I? or by movement of the platen it.

Although for the purpose of explaining the invention a specific embodiment thereof has been described in substantial detail, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the particular construction shown without departing from the invention, which is to be limited only to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: i

1. Apparatus. for feeding a multiple Web to and from the platen of a typewriting machine, comprising: feeding means synchronized with said platen for permitting the flow of the web to the platen at the peripheral speed of the platen but no faster, and means for applying tension to said Web beyond said platen to maintain the web in tension about the platen, and draw it away from said feeding means and over said platen as fast asit is permitted to flow from said feeding means, said tension-applying means and feeding means constituting the sole elements for synchronizing said web with said platen, said tension-applying means comprising web-engaging means, and means for drivingthe latter at a speed in excess of the speed of said platen when unrestrained by resistance of said web. r

2.- Apparatus for feeding a multiple web to and from the platen of a typewriting machine, comprising: feeding means engaging said web ahead of said platen for permitting flow of said webto the platen at a controlled speed, and tensioning means beyond said platen for maintaining said web in tension about the'platen' and draw it away from said feeding means and over said platen as fast as it i permitted to flow thereto by said feeding means, said tension-applying means and feeding means constituting the sole elementsfor synchronizing said web with said platen, said tension-applying means comprising web-engaging means, and means for driving the latter at a speed in excess of the speed of said platen when unrestrained by resistance of said web.

3. Apparatus for feeding a multiple web to and from the platen of a typewriting machine, said web having sprocket hole therein, comprising: sprocket means positioned ahead of said platen and having pins engaging the holes in said web, means for driving said sprocket means to permit th advancement of said Web thereover, and tensioning means for applying tension to said web beyond said platen during rotation of said sprocket means, to maintain the Web in tension about the platen, and draw it away from said sprocket means and over said platen as fast as it is released to the platen by said sprocket means, said tensioning means and feeding means constituting the sole elements for synchronizing said webs with said platen.

l. Apparatus as described in claim 3, for handling a multi-ply web, in which said web is trained over said sprocket means with curvature in direction opposite to its direction of curvature about said platen, and the angle of the arc of contact of the webs With the sprocket means is substantially the same as the angle of the arc of contact of the web with the platen, whereby longitudinal displacement of the different plies of the web is introduced during passage of the web over said sprocket means to compensate for the longitudinal displacement of the different plies resulting from curvature about said platen.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 3, in which said sprocket means is of relatively large dimension and said tensioning means includes a pair of relatively small rollers frictio-nally engaging said web and positioned close to said platen, whereby the length of Web extending beyond the platen into engagement with the .tensioning means is relatively small. i a

6. Apparatus for feeding a web to and from the platen of a typewriting machine, said apparatus Comprising: 'a pair of end frame members adapted to be supported in predetermined relation to the typewriting machine, transverse members interconnecting said end frame members, first and second rotary shafts supported by and extending between said end-frame members, a pair of web-supporting members slidably supported on said transverse membersfor adjustable movement between said end frame members, said web-supporting members each including a Websupporting sprocket roller mounted on said first rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, for'feeding a web to the platen of the typewriting machine at a speed determined by the speed of rotation of said first shaft, each of said web-suppqrting members alsoincorporating -a web-enga ing means for pulling the web away from said glaten, and means for driving each of said webngaging means from said second rotary shaft, means for driving said first rotary shaft at a speed bearing a predetermined relation to the movement of the typewriting machine, and means for supplying a torque to said second rotary shaft for so rotating the latter as to always maintain the web taut about said platen during feeding movement of said sprocket rollers;

7. Apparatus for feeding a web to and from the platen of a typewriting machine, comprising means synchronized with said platen for permitting the flow of the web to the platen at-the peripheral speed of the platen but no faster, means for applying tension to said web beyond said platen to maintain the web in tension about the platen, whereby it is drawn away from said platen as fast as it is permitted to flow thereto by said first-mentioned means, and means intercoupling said feeding and said tensioning means whereby the latter is driven from the former in response to normal movement of said feeding means, said interco-upling means including a oneway clutch whereby said feeding means is movable to move said web backwards Without actuating said tensioning means.

8. Apparatus for feeding a Web to and from the platen of a typewriting machine, said Web having sprocket holes therein, comprising:

sprocket means positioned ahead of said platen and having pins engaging the holes in said web, means for driving said sprocket means to permit the advancement of said Web thereover, .ten-

sioning means for applying tension to said web beyond said platen during rotation of said sprocketmeans, to maintain the web in tension about the platen, whereby it is drawn away from said platen as fast as it is released to the platen by said sprocket means, said tensioning means comprising movable means engaging the web, and means intercoupling said sprocket means and said movable means for driving the latter to maintain tension oh said web during normal feeding movement of .said sprocket means, said intercoupling means including a oneway clutch whereby reverse movement of said sprocket means to retract said web is ineffective to move said movable means through said coupling means.

NED WHITEHEAD. 

